General News of Friday, 11 September 2009

Source: GNA

AMA to automate revenue collection

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will from next year automate revenue collection to remove all corrupt practices in revenue mobilisation.

At its sitting on Friday, the assembly unanimously endorsed an agreement with Electronic Bill Placement and Payment (EBPP) a US-based company to undertake the project called the "e-payment project". Dr. Alfred O. Vanderpuje, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive said the assembly adopted the project to embark on a comprehensive tax mobilisation to generate enough revenue for the effective and efficient operations of the assembly.

He explained that it would help to eliminate human errors and all the challenges militating against the manual system. Dr. Alloy Chife, Chief Executive Officer of the company said the system would increase the revenue base of the assembly by about 30 per cent.

He said the project involved the use of an electronic credit card with the relevant information of the client, which would be credited with any amount of payment at the commercial banks. He said any payment effected would immediately reflect in AMA account and could be accessible at any time. Dr. Chife said staff of the assembly would be trained to handle the project for seven years when it would be eventually be handed over to the assembly to manage. He said illiterate clients would be assisted by staff of the assembly or at the banks, whilst intensive education on the project would also be carried out.